[AW] Let the wind sing us our love songs

[Goose]

Thread Prompt It's early evening in Overgrowth Sunrise, and the clouds look amazing. Your character chases snowflakes to catch them on their tongue.

(418) ● Lupus | Dated for early Feburary.

Goose's mother wasn't much for conversation since they had crossed the landbridge and made their grim discovery.

Crow had claimed that they would stay on the southern peninsula to wait out the winter, where it was slightly warmer and the snow less harsh than on the Wabanaki Coast, but Goose knew it was sadness that stilled her. Shiloh Hills were where Crow had been born and raised, where her mother had taught her to hunt, where Crow had chased and herded goats with her littermates who were now long gone. Every summer the mother and her own daughter would return to the hills for good hunting and to celebrate Crow's autumnal birthday—a tradition born from Goose's insistence.

The hills were now gone. Completely gone. The once-familiar trails lead over a sheer rocky cliff that dropped into the rolling ocean. It was an awesome, terrible thing: how could earth fall away completely like that? Was the ground they stood on and the memories embedded in the soil so fragile and temporary?

Goose was afraid. Crow was despondent. Neither talked about it. The emotions were too raw.

So they carried on as usual, taking it day by day, waiting out the winter like they said they would. Goose returned to routine with less effort than Crow, and she noticed her mother lagging behind more than usual. Literally. Goose looked over her shoulder to see Crow trudging through the shallow snow many lengths away, eyes lidded heavily and focused on the ground.

The younger female frowned and looked up at the darkening sky and the slight snow that fell. It was still light out, the sinking sun splashing the wispy clouds in brilliant orange and purple. After crossing the field, they could probably find some bushes to hunker into. Goose snuffled as snowflakes fell on her upturned nose and she licked it clean. And like a lightbulb's cord being pulled taut, an idea popped in her head.

Goose began barking excitedly, and Crow lifted her head in confusion. She watched as her daughter cut away from the beeline they were making in the snow to start zig-zagging across the white plain, tongue lolling and jumping into the air to snap her maw into empty space. Goose bounced over to Crow.

"Bet I can catch more snowflakes than you!" she challenged Crow with glittering blue eyes.

Crow quirked a frown, but before she could respond her face was (accidentally) swiped by Goose's feathery tail as the younger female turned around to go back to licking at the air.

[Parzival]

There's magic in our bones - A north star in our soul - That remembers our way home 

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OOC: stuff here

The search for Orca would take time. Parzival's mission to track down his lost sibling wasn't going to be solved with just one lucky scout, the new Sworn needed to be sensible about these things. But it was his first job in the Brotherhood, he wanted to do it right, to save the life of his lost sibling as well as cement his position in Casa. Such was the downside to being Sworn; now Parzival had to care about responsibilities and results, no longer able to just lie around all day. The cat might sulk about it, remark on wanting to be lazy, but truly this was what he wanted out of life. 

The chance to do more and be more in Casa. He was trusted more now, even in neutral lands the feline walked with purpose and pride, a title hiding behind his glowing eyes. Snow had fallen thick over the lands beyond the land bridge, Parzival making his slow return to Casa after scouting around, having to wade through the thick snow and leap over areas where it felt like it might smother him. Cold like this made Parzival glad for his thick and poofy coat this time of year. It made him look a tad fat, but that fluff was vital to keep him from getting worn down by the bitter winds and ice. 

The snow thinned out the closer he got to Casa, slightly warmer winds meant the ice settled less, so Parzival got to run across the fields instead of slowly plowing through. He heard a voice ahead, then the dashing movements of a canine dancing around in circles, head tilted up to the sky. 

They weren't close to Casa yet, but even then the sight of visitors didn't put Parzival on edge, it was typically the other way around. So in order to not scare the two travelling canine, Parzival slowed his gait and huffed out a loud meow. Not his typical scream, but the closest thing the large cat could do to a 'bark'. 

[Goose]

(322) ✦ Lupus // hiya! :) don't mind the frosty reception ♥

Crow sneezed and rubbed her muzzle after getting a face-full of her daughter's tail. She watched the younger female hop around with a more alert expression than before and she didn't seem inclined to join her. But she didn't admonish her either, which was a mixed signal to Goose; often Crow would reprimand her for childish behavior, and the silence was either because Crow didn't mind the antics or she was too disheartened to care.

Despite how close she was to her mother, the seasons they had spent together, Goose sometimes felt the yawning distance between them. How could someone she had spent her whole life with still be so hard to read? Why did Crow obscure herself so much?

Goose snapped another snowflake from the air, and when she landed on the ground, a strange sound happened. It wasn't like anything she heard before. It was feline, but also… weird.

Instinctively, she froze up and cocked her head to the source, letting out a curious, surprised bark. She didn't need to look at Crow to know that she was doing the same.

Goose certainly didn't expect to see a mountain lion approaching. Crow was the first to respond.

"Stop there!" the older female barked, running up and stopping short at Goose's side. Grouping together, creating a more imposing presence than the two smaller animals could achieve alone. Her teeth were bared and her tail flagged in the air. "Leave us alone, cat!"

Goose was struggling to overcome her surprise. If the mountain lion had snuck up on them (at least, more so than his existence could conjure by itself) she may have been yapping alongside her mother before attempting a retreat. They addressed most problems with running away. But the cat's appearance was odd. Literally.

"Hey!" she barked, less hostile than her mother, but nearly as insistent. "Why are you wearing that! The purple thing!" Crow gave Goose an incredulous glance.

[Parzival]

There's magic in our bones - A north star in our soul - That remembers our way home 

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OOC: Oh don't worry Parz is very used to it! xD

It didn't take much for Parzival to be silent. He had naturally designed to stalk. Wide feet to flatten over ground, muscles that could keep him steady as he practically hovered across the land as he moved, tail keeping him ever so balanced in his act. It was perfect for keeping out of the way and avoiding things, but when Parzival didn't want to avoid things then it got tricky. He couldn't make himself known in a canine way. No howl or bark, no walking loudly, so all he could do is meow or huff. Then roll his eyes at the predictable reaction of two canine spotting a mountain lion so close. Reacting on instinct, barking and snarling, not yet catching on the fact that Parzival had announced himself to them. If he meant harm, he'd remain silent, but a canine in panic didn't always think that far ahead. 

He wouldn't hold it against them, already so used to this reception, instead choosing to sit himself down and watch them from a respectable distance. One was defensive, but the other remained a bit more curious of him. 

"It's a bandana." He called over, tail flicking behind his sat rump. "From the pack I belong to." Hoping that word meant something to them. Maybe not ease all concerns about the large cougar but... at least make them stop and think. "I mean no harm, truly." He purred, glancing away to show his willingness to break eye-contact. 

"But I get it... big scary cat, others like me would probably attack you, but I'm different." The cat tried to explain. "I'm Parzival."